Erin Barnett on for Paul Grech
Kaylan Rumbo on for Jason Pusey
Max Bothen on for Dexter Panzavechia

Tough game where 3rd faced off against 7th. St Joseph’s are carrying out a very good season and are on the brink of qualifying for European football. United come into the game after the sour tasting defeat to Mons Calpe last time out. Manolo hs reshuffled his pack once again with Victory and Grech coming into the starting XI, the latter making his first start for the club. Jason returns after serving a one match ban. Robert and Max Bothen both make the bench after suspension and injury respectively. Pishu was missing after reaching 5 yellows for the season last time out.

It has been an energising week for all involved with the club after the momentous news on Monday that the club had new owners. The technical staff was hoping that the buzz created mid week would rub off the players in this most hard of matches. The new owner sent a prematch message of encouragement to the staff.

St Joseph’s proved from the off why they sit 3rd in the table. A powerful midfield was eager to press our players and made sure our play makers had little time on the ball. Likewise Anthony was very closely watched by two Blue and White defenders at all times with often a third one assisting to close down spaces into which he could charge into.

Yet for all their possession around our box The Saints were not creating any real chances or causing Chino any undue headaches. United’s defensive ranks were holding firm and indeed always looking dangerous on the counter. Indeed the first meaningful ball into the box was delivered by Evan Green from the corner but Caballero was quick to head the ball away into touch. As the first half progressed Saints got more and more comfortable on the ball as United weathered the storm. Bosio, Victory and Aymen were immense in shielding the defence and even when they did get through Power and Pusey were equal to anything thrown at them. With Mr Warwick bringing proceedings to a close after the single minute of added on time United could be happy that Chino had not really been tested.

The ref brings the First Half to an end.

The second half was to have another tale as St Joseph’s really piled on the pressure against Chino’s goal. Though guilty of profligacy on three very clear occasions when shots were blasted over the bar, two clear opportunities stick in the mind. First it was Kaylan Rumbo who heroically cleared a ball off the line from a well taken free kick; hearts in mouths moment as Saints were seemingly taking the lead. Then it was Chino’s turn to earn the plaudits as he used all his feline ability to pounce on a ball that he crept behind him and seemed destined to hit the back of the net. Nerves were frayed to breaking point as the clock seemed to tick ever slower.

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Saints’ players were beginning to feel the frustration of so much possession but little to show for it. The began to accumulate bookings for diving and the play began to get somewhat aggressive with elbows and tackles flying in. In a rare foray forward man of the match (as voted by the supporters) Aymen Mouelhi was fed a ball by Anthony but a wild shot flew harmlessly past Robba’s goal. Aymen was to be in the wars again before the final whistle. With time up he was hounded by three Saints’ players and shoved off the ball. Something must have been said as the normally placid Tunisian moved towards the Saints player Enrique. The latter was eventually shown a yellow rapidly followed by another one as he protested right in Mr Warwick’s face. With time ebbing away United doggedly hung on for a most valuable point, and perhaps a turning of the a corner with Lady Luck who fickle nature had seemed to desert us in our last two games.

Jason Pusey was missing due to a suspension because of an accumulation of yellow cards. Both he and Robert Montovio should be back next week along with Max Bothen who has resumed training after a lengthy spell out with injury. Jason’s absence meant a reshuffle as Aymen moves back into defence while Pishu starts in midfield with Rumbo coming in as cover at right back.

United started the match the brightest of the two teams. The initial 10 minutes brought incisive forward play and clever interactions between Anthony and the support from the flanks from Dexter and Evan. Indeed Mons seemed somewhat perplexed at what was happening as Anthony drove the Red and White attacks forward. This initial impetus was rewarded by a Jamie Bosio goal on the 8th minute. Anthony floated in a ball from a free kick on the left side of the Mons area, the resulting clearance fell to Jamie on the penalty spot. Without hesitation he drove his shot past the keeper to give United the lead and our first goal in a while.

Nice to get on the scoresheet but shame for us not to take something from the game. We keep working hard to achieve our aim! 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/YOloEb72G8

Mons seemed rocked and two further chances followed. Anthony used a mixture of speed, power and skill to slide past two markers, into the area and sought the top corner. With Fraiz beaten the ball sailed just wide of the mark. More surprising was Aymen’s miss from a Perez crossed ball. He had a gilt edged chance to put us 2-0 up but send a shot wide that was almost impossible to miss. When another chance went begging shortly after supporters were wondering if Mons had been let off.

The Mons manager carried out a tactical reshuffle by putting the pacy Dos Santos into the full back position to counter Anthony, who was frankly making the defenders tremble with every charging run. This seemed to do the trick as Mons clawed their way into the game as Nuñez traded the ball for space as United’s lines compacted and began to weather the Mons storm; a storm that gave no real signs of danger as the first half petered out.

The second half however was to be different. Mons started just as United had and pushed hard from the kick off. As fatigue started to kick in so did a lack of concentration. A defensive mishap allowed Pibe to find himself with a golden chance to score. A striker of his quality did not give Chino a chance as he rifled his shot in. United tried to strike back, and with the introduction of Victory fresh legs to motor the midfield. Yet it was another individual mistake that gave Mons the lead as Di Piedi capitalised to smartly bury a crossed in ball in the smallest of spaces between the upright and Chino’s flailing hand. Aymen had another chance as he was now deployed as a centre forward and blasted a close range shot into the side netting. Despite a late surge Mons held out for three points that left a sour taste in the mouth.

Jesse Victory on for Kaylan Rumbo
Duane Robba on for Jamie Currer
Jamie Bosio on for Dexter Panzavechia

Tough game against Champions Lincoln that are currently locked in a death struggle with Europa FC for the title. United are in a poor vein of form but Nuñez has gone for a solidly defensive line up to try and shore up a team that let in 3 versus Man 62 last time out. Erin and Kaylan are recalled to the starting line up with Jamie Currer also coming in. Victory, Green fall to the bench while Robert Montovio is serving a ban for accumulated yellow cards. Further bad news in the week for Paul Podesta who was injured in training and will be out for a protracted amount of time. More positive news in that Jamie Bosio was fit enough to make a berth on the bench despite his recent injury.

A match that showed that the character and guts that personified us last season is still there. Lincoln had the most fortuitous of 1-0 wins with an 89th minute goal from Kyle Casciaro, a player who many argue should not have been on the pitch after ref Mr Reoch had forgiven him a second yellow on the stroke of half time. Yes they may have dominated possession as is their wont but United had more shots on target and the clearer chances in the match. First it was Pishu in a one on one which he shot straight at Navas. Then it was Dexter who also squandered a well developed chance versus the Lincoln stopper. Anthony, sublime and back to his very best, would also have a decent chance to put United ahead. But that old adage of football, the one that goes along the lines of if you forgive the opponent he will come back to haunt you, proved true in the dying embers of the game. Defeat with honour and this performance serves as inspiration that we can do this and get out of the mire. Certainly assistant manager, Javier Alfaro Sanchez, thought we deserved to get something out of the match by saying that ‘Lincoln were never comfortable at any point in the match and we counter attacked very well without that little bit of luck that is needed.’ Indeed plaudits came from fans and supporters online too who finally saw the team play with purpose and vigour.

@GibraltarUnited unfortunately you never deserved that loss. Well done Gib United

United had a number of key players missing. Rodriguez was on deployment with the Regiment while Bosio was out injured, thankfully Jamie’s injury is not as bad as first feared by all. Bothen is still out with a niggling leg injury while Grech also joins those on the sidelines. Jesse Victory continues in the first XI while Brad Power makes a welcome return.

Gib Utd uncharacteristically started the stronger of the two teams and dominated both territory and position for large swathes of the opening 20 minutes of the game. Anthony was showing plenty of evidence of his class and was eager to impress against his former team. His link up play with Robert and with his younger brother Pishu brought a lot of productive play but little bite up front. Robert was to have a goal chalked off for a somewhat dodgy offside call but United showed promising play. Man 62 were relying greatly on the probing passes of Fran Mejias but had done little to trouble Chino.

Things were looking great for the second half with United looking to push on and capitalise on their play but concentration, that vital and often under looked quality in football, evaporated on the 46th minute of the first half. A Man 62 corner found Alvaro Navarro with the freedom of the Gib Utd area. His deep lying run from midfield had not been tracked as United’s defenders were caught ball watching and the Spaniard scored with the last kick of the half. A kick that would eventually result in a mortal blow.

With the start of the second half United’s spirit of last season, ‘el si se puede’, seemed to resurface as our players fought very hard to get back into the game. The introduction of Evan Green further galvanised the team as his direct running and fast play began to harry the Man 62 full back. A promising one-two was Podesta saw the big man find himself goal side of the defence, he seemed poised to charge into the area only for ref, Mr Barcelo, to call back play for an earlier foul when an advantage seemed the most logical thing for the referee to apply. Nevertheless as United continued to surge forward the lack of concentration struck again. Chino fumbled a zipped in cross from the Man 62 left, damp gloves and a wet ball combining, and the ball fell once again to Navarro who buried the gift with aplomb. Shoulders began to droop as the belief ebbed from the players. Yet several of the men on the pitch were heard to shout encouragement to their team mates to once again stoke the fires of confidence.

A shout out at this moment to the Man 62 gaffer, Carlos Inareios, who exhibited fair play of the highest order. Man 62 supporters, and even players on the pitch , were extolling their manager to remove the ball boys in order to waste time. The manager rightly responded that that was not the correct attitude to show and it shows the man’s integrity. His side secured their 3 points, invaluable for their cause, after catching a United totally launched into the attack, on the counter with Payas finally settling the game. A scoreline that certainly flatters Man 62 but does no good to United’s cause that is slowly seeing the cushion with the teams below them start to erode.

Ashley Rodriguez on for Jamie Bosio
Kaylan Rumbo on for Anthony Hernandez
Evan Green on for Robert Montovio

Jesse Victory and Anthony Hernandez are rewarded with recalls to the first XI after their performances against Europa FC last time out. Montovio is also back after injury which means Rodriguez and Green drop to the bench while Barnett has been unable to recover from a niggling injury.

If last week was all about losing with honour this match was quite the opposite. Gib Utd proved incapable of breaking down a dogged Europa Point side. Though the first half was one of United dominance the lack of bite up front meant that on loan Lincoln keeper Hankin only had to deal with floated in crosses. One of those crosses was summarily meant by Aymen’s head and was only a whisker wide. An Ashley Perez cross cum shot cannoned off the upright and the ball unluckily went between the open legs of Podesta. Fortune, that fickle mistress deciding to abandon United for the moment.

The second half could not have had a worse portent. Jamie Bosio went into a 50/50 tackle with another Lincoln loanee Debarr. Both players clashed fiercely in a fairly contested contest but Jamie’s cry of pain was audible to anyone at the Stadium. He writhed in pain on the floor as the physio run on. Any concerns supporters had quickly deepened as news filtered through that an ambulance had been summoned. Jamie was stretched off the ground and we all wish him a speedy recovery.

United continued to fail to penetrate Europa Point’s defence with aimless long balls and substitutions had no major impact on the result. A somewhat generous penalty given by Mr Warwick in the 90th minute sealed the 3 points for Europa Point who give themselves a life line in their fight for relegation. For United these are worrying times as form has dipped the first murmurs of disgruntlement can be heard amid supporters.

Jesse Victory on for Ashley Rodriguez
Anthony Hernandez on for Evan Green

If ever there was a victory with honour it was this one. Free scoring Europa were kept to the solitary goal and indeed kept to time wasting antics in the second half as United players decided to die with honour on the pitch and remind the Gibraltar football community that the never say die attitude is there. Stellar performances for all the team with mentions in dispatches for Chino and Anthony who both made Football Gibraltar’s Team of the Week. Morale is high for the game against Europa Point that will end our second round of matches.

4th placed Glacis United were the next opponents for the Red and Whites who come into the match after conceding two points in extremis versus Lions last week. Manolo shuffled his pack by handing Rumbo a start and sitting Montovio on the bench as more of a rear guard action was required for this match. The match was well fought with United stifling Glacis’ attempts during the first half quite effectively. The most notable act of the first 45 minutes was a nasty tackle on Rumbo by Tirado which only saw the claret player see yellow when perhaps a harsher punishment was in order. Chino was called into action in the second half but there was no real danger against his goal. Former United player Jared Buhagiar made a cameo appearance for the last 10 minutes, with another explayer in Carl Thomas sitting out the game on the bench. Ultimately a valuable point for United that continue 6th for another week. Next up its Round 2 of the Gibtelecom Rock Cup against Man 62.

Evan Green on for Ashley Rodriguez
Kaylan Rumbo on for Paul Podesta
Dexter Panzavechia on for Ashley Perez

Nuñez welcomed back Podesta and Montovio to the starting line up after recovering from their respective niggles giving the line up a rather offensive looking edge with both forwards playing in front of Hernandez. Brad Power also confirmed his recovery by ,aking a welcome return to the bench where he was joined by new signing from Europa Point FC Paul Grech.

The game proved to be a dull and torrid affair which at times became a pitch battle across the pitch, the 8 bookings the teams shared a testament to this. United proved to be the most effective with the chances created. Podesta was to have a goal chalked off due a rather harsh offside position, considering he was behind the ball as the play was made. Paul was also guilty of a glaring miss after great work by Montovio and Pishu in the build up. A rasping cross was blasted over the crossbar from point blank range by the striker. The younger of the Hernandez brothers has made the right wing back berth his own and has been playing with a maturity beyond his years and proved to be United’s best man on the field on the night.

Ultimately the game was to be the tale of two penalties. First it was Aymen that was felled in the Lions area. Mr Gilbert pointed to the spot without hesitation and Robert proved to be his effective self by burying the pen and notching up his 5th goal of the season. However United failed to capitalise on their advantage and allowed Lions to creep back into a game they had had few chances to boast off. Their tenacity was rewarded by a penalty in the 93rd minute of the game. An incoming cross seemed to cannon off the outstretched hands of Erin Barnett. Though United players vociferously protested that the ball had struck the defender’s face Mr Gilbert was resolute in his decision. Gonzalez equalised with virtually the last kick of a game United should have safely put away.

Robert Montovio on for Dexter Panzavechia
Evan Green on for Kaylan Rumbo
Jesse Victory on for Ashley Rodriguez

United had to patch together a line up with the available players after the squad was ravaged by absences and injury. The likes of Power, Mouehli, Podesta and Bothen were all unavailable and Montovio was only fit enough for a call up to the bench. As such it was recalls for Rumbo and Currer to shore up the first XI against a resurgent Lynx FC.

The match proved a dull and dour affair that was settled by a solitary Lynx goal by Mitchell in the dying embers of the first half. All photographs are copyrighted to Christopher Milan.

Evan Green on for Dexter Panzavechia
Kaylan Rumbo on for Aymen Mouehli

United come into the game bouyed by their performance against Mons Calpe last week. It is no easy task though as St Joseph’s are sat firmly in 3rd place and have been one of the most consistent teams so far this season. Manolo welcomes Bosio and Rodriguez back to replace Bothen and Podesta who are unavailable and injured respectively. Elsewhere its as we were with Anthony Hernandez riding high after a man of the match performance last time out and Robert Montovio eager to rediscover his shooting boots again.

A game of two halves that started brightly with Anthony getting his second goal in as many games. United played some good football and were able to impose their rhythm on St Joseph’s. Indeed United were unfortunate to go into the dressing room at 1-1. StJ’s however proved to be the much stronger team in the second half. A half in which United were at perhaps their worst this season letting in 3 more goals with little to respond. The club remains in 6th with games versus Lynx and Lions to come up next.